When Less is More - Gideon and The Church

When it comes to investing in the mission of Jesus to bring the Gospel to people, the "church" is often tempted to think in the following ways:

"It would be nice to plant a church, but we don't have the financial resources."

"We could do outreach to that community, but our people are busy enough just keeping our local church going."

Satan loves to tempt followers of Jesus to function from a mindset of scarcity rather than a confidence in God's abundance.

Gideon, when told that he was chosen by God to defeat the Midianites operated from a mindset of scarcity.    His response was 

Judges 6:15 

"But Lord, " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

God's answer was

Judges 6:14 - 16

The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you? . . . I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." 

With God's promise Gideon gathers an army of 32,000 men.  God twice reduced Gideon's army because He knew Gideon was seeking to operate out of his own human strength.

Judges 7:2-3 

The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, {3} announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

Gideon obeyed but once again God reduced his army

Judges 7:4-7 

But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." {5} So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." {6} Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. {7} The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place."

When by all human calculations, it looked like Gideon should lose, he was nevertheless obedient.  God gave victory.  No mindset of scarcity here - just a confidence in God's abundance.  Truly Less was More!

It is absolutely true that God provide all that is needed to accomplish His mission in the world.  It will be done regardless of whether we take action or not.  But, I for one don't want to miss out on the exciting Kingdom adventure God has in store for me as I have the privilege of being part of that adventure.  That is what Jesus wants for every believer and every church.  While we might be tempted to think there is not enough to be in mission, God takes what may appear to be little and shows us that it is enough.  He did it with Gideon and He will do it with you and your church.